FREEDOM AND FULFILLMENT

PART ONE

On January 6, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed Congress on the state of the war in Europe. Much of what he said that day has been forgotten. But at the close of his address, he said that he looked forward "to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms." He named them: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These words are still remembered, even though their ideals have not yet been realised everywhere in the world. These four essential freedoms is also to be founded with in the Word of God, as spiritual freedoms for all those who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

The Christian’s "Declaration of Freedom," is found in Romans 8 where Paul declares the four spiritual freedoms we enjoy because of our union with Jesus Christ. Romans 8 shows the emphasis on the Holy Spirit, who is mentioned nineteen times. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" "17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]." - 2 Corinthians 3:17. Today we will look at the first spiritual essential freedom for those (me and you) who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Freedom from Judgment—No Condemnation

"1Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. 2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son], 4so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power]." - Romans 8:1-4 AMP.

Romans 3:20 shows the "therefore" of condemnation, "20For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin]." - Romans 3:20 AMP, but Romans 8:1 gives the "therefore" of no condemnation, "1Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]," - Romans 8:1 AMP, a tremendous truth and the conclusion of a marvellous argument.

The basis for this wonderful assurance for you and me is the phrase "in Jesus Christ." In Adam, we were condemned. In Christ, there is no condemnation for us! Hallelujah, this is wonderful news for us who believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, no more condemnation for us. The verse does not say "no mistakes" or "no failures", or even "no sins." Christians (you and me) do fail and make mistakes, and we do sin. A because we are human and still in the flesh. Abraham lied about his wife; David committed adultery; Peter tried to kill a man with his sword. To be sure, they suffered consequences because of their sins, but they did not suffer condemnation. If we where under the law we would have suffer condemnation because the law condemns, but the believer (you and me) has a new relationship to the law, for we are in Jesus Christ and therefore we cannot be condemned. Paul made three statements about the believer (you and me) and the law, and together they add up to no condemnation.

The law cannot claim you "2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death." - Romans 8:2 AMP. You and I have been made free from the law of sin and death. You and I now have life in the Spirit. You and I have moved into a whole new sphere of life in Christ. "The law of sin and death" is what Paul described in Romans 7 "9I was once alive without [knowledge of] the Law; but when the commandment came [and I understood its meaning], sin became alive and I died [since the Law sentenced me to death]." - Romans 7:9 AMP. Whereas "The law of the Spirit of life" is described in Romans 8 "2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death." - Romans 8:2 AMP. The law no longer has any jurisdiction over you: you are dead to the law "4Therefore, my fellow believers, you too died to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God." - Romans 7:4 AMP, and free from the law; "2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." - Romans 8:2 ESV.

The law cannot condemn you "3For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son]," - Romans 8:3 AMP. WHY? Because Christ has already suffered that condemnation for you and me on the cross. The law could not save; it can only condemn. But God sent His Son to save you and me and do what the law could not do. Jesus did not come as an angel; He came as a man. He did not come "in sinful flesh," for that would have made Him a sinner. He came in the likeness of sinful flesh, as a man. He bore our sins in His body on the cross. (Thank You Jesus). The "law of double jeopardy" states that a man cannot be tried twice for the same crime. Since Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins, and since you are "in Christ," God will not condemn you.

The law cannot control you "4so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power]." - Romans 8:4 AMP. The believer (you and me who believe in Him as our personal Lord and Savior), lives a righteous life, not in the power of the law, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. The law does not have the power to produce holiness; it can only reveal and condemn sin. But the indwelling Holy Spirit enables you and me to walk in obedience to God’s will.

The righteousness that God demands in His law is fulfilled in you through the Spirit’s power. In the Holy Spirit, you have life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The legalist tries to obey God in his own strength and fails to measure up to the righteousness that God demands. The Spirit-led Christian (Hallo, this is us! who believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior), as he (this is you) yields to the Lord, experiences the sanctifying work of the Spirit in his life. "13For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." - Philippians 2:13 AMP. For it is God that works in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is this fact that leads to the second freedom we enjoy as Christians. The Freedom from Defeat—No Obligation.... (to be continued). See you in the next post. Stay blessed.